History and Status of the Oregon Sea Urchin Fishery, 1986-1996

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Richmond, Neil, John Schaefer, Claire Wood, and Jean McCrae

Publish Date: 1997

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: The commercial sea urchin fishery expanded rapidly in the 1980's along the U.S. west coast, in response to increased market demand for Japanese gourmet products, especially uni (urchin gonads). Urchin fisheries in southern California, Washington and southern British Columbia were well established before the inception of the Oregon fishery. Fishery development in northern California preceded Oregon's by less than two years, with some of the same divers and processors involved in developing the Oregon fishery. Oregon's commercial fishery for red sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) began in 1986 in Port Orford. The Oregon and Northern California coastlines are characterized by relatively rough seas and ports remote from transportation centers. Favorable market conditions during the second half of the decade fueled aggressive fishery development into virgin red urchin habitats. A limited fishery for purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) began in Oregon in 1992. Urchins are harvested by divers using surface supplied air, working off of small vessels usually less than 40 feet in length. This report reviews the Oregon sea urchin fishery from 1986 through 1996. Included in this report is a history of management actions and summaries of harvest activity (landings and effort), catch data from diver logbooks, and market sample data collections. An earlier report (McCrae 1989) reviewed the first three years of the fishery. The fishery, marketing, and biology of red sea urchins has been previously described (Kato and Schroeter,1985). Results of ongoing population surveys will be reported in a subsequent publication.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1986-1996

Geographic Extent: Oregon

Status: Draft

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown